How do you reach today's youth?

Part of my role at my internship, Movement against Intolerance, is going to various middle and high schools in Málaga and giving presentations on the various forms of intolerance with corresponding workshops on specific types of intolerance, such as racism, anti-Semitism, xenophobia, etc. After visiting various types of school and working with all ages of students, I have noticed a trend with the attention span and participation of the students in regard to these presentations. At my internship we often think about this topic, but I am not sure we have found the best answers.

I am sure that this is an area in which most teachers in countries all over the world struggle. I feel that if we cannot properly reach the students, then the presentations are useless. My supervisors and I talk to the students, show video clips, utilize PowerPoint presentations, pose controversial questions to spark class discussion, and hand out flyers and stickers, among other in-class resources. However even with all of these resources, I feel that we are not truly reaching the students. Though in theory they should have more maturity than their younger counterparts, I feel it is the older students that are not fully involved in these seminars. I think back to my high school experience and wonder how my teachers managed to hold the attention of the class. While I’m sure those majoring in education would have a better idea of this, I truly wonder… how do you reach today’s youth?

Empty Nest Syndrome

According to Psychology Today’s diagnosis dictionary, Empty Nest Syndrome “refers to the feelings of depression, sadness and/or grief experienced by parents and caregivers after children come of age and leave their childhood homes.” Luckily, Spanish parents have discovered an effective antidote to this horrible affliction: keep the nest full as long as possible.

One cultural difference between the United States and Spain that continues to surprise me is the average age that young people leave home. Through conversation with my classmates I discovered that many of our host-families have “grown” children living at home. (I use the word “grown” loosely because I know that maturity and independence cannot be accurately measured in years, but once a person reaches 30, I believe it is safe to say that he/she is grown.) There are many theories as to why young Spaniards tend to stay at home longer than Americans. One theory is that the Spanish have stronger family bonds and values—I can only guess the nationality of this theorist. Another is that housing in Spain (and Europe) is more expensive than in the United States so it makes economic sense for young people to live at home until they are financially secure—logical. A third possibility is that the American higher education system encourages independence more so than the Spanish system because a significant amount of American students live either on campus or in an apartment during college and then on their own post-graduation. Meanwhile, many Spanish students attend a university close enough to their home that they can continue living at home during and after college. It is hard to say whether these systems are the source or product of the different cultural norms surrounding the moving-out process, but regarding the age cut-off there does seem to be an unspoken agreement in the United States while in Spain it is much more dependent on the individual. But as we know, even if some need more time, eventually all of the little birds leave the nest.

Public Transportation

During our stay in Malaga, I have become greatly appreciative of the facility with which we travel. Here, we can take a train to Madrid or even outside the country, a bus to class or a nearby city, and sometime in the near future people will be able to travel by metro. The benefits of this system are immeasurable: fewer traffic jams, less pollution, fewer people traveling by foot, inreased efficiency, and the list goes on. As we all know, the public transportation system in the United States leaves something to be desired. In fact, I can count on one hand the number of times I´ve traveled by train and bus combined. Though, to be fair, most large US cities do have highly developed systems of public transportation. With that said, however, we still lack modern rail systems between large cities, and furthermore, have developed most medium sized cities in such a way that makes walking anywhere impossible. As you may have guessed, I love the high-speed rail system in Europe and believe that if such a system were developed in the US, the tremendous cost of building it would soon be justified by the benefits.

Why do the Spanish respond in English?

With some of the experiences I have had since studying in Spain, I have started to notice a pattern in the relationship between the Spaniards and the tourists or foreigners. Whenever I start up a conversation in Spanish, the Spaniards decide to respond in English. Even when I try to continue the conversation in Spanish, they carry on in English. My question is why. Is it to make it more convenient for the non-Spanish speakers? Is it because they want to practice their English? Do they believe that their English is better than my Spanish? It is a question that still goes unanswered. The irony of it all is that most foreigners came here for vacations or to study. Some people come here for the sole purpose of improving or practicing their Spanish. I find it something rather frustrating to deal with. I am actually more offended by it. Although I appreciate the effort put forth by the Spaniards, I find it more difficult to understand them when they speak English.

This is not an occurrence that only exists in cosmopolitan cities, like Madrid or Barcelona. Although it is more common in these cities, speaking English has also come about in small touristy cities, like Málaga. English has become the language most commonly exchanged in conversation between a Spaniard and a tourist or a foreigner. Is there any way to escape English?

New Appreciation

Continuing with the thought that Kennon brought up, our recent trip to Barcelona made me think about the variety of study abroad programs that exist. I knew that Barcelona was a popular destination for American students wishing to study in Spain, and rightfully so as it is a beautiful city. Despite this, I never realized the extent to which English is spoken in Barcelona which is seemingly more than Spanish and Catalan combined. Many of the friends that we met up with were amazed at the intensity of our program and the fact that we had even signed a contract promising to only speak in Spanish. While many of these students are in Barcelona with the goal to learn Spanish and improve upon their current level, their classes do not facilitate the same level of learning that ours do and their programs are much less language-intensive. After seeing these differences, it gave me a new appreciation for our program here in Málaga because we benefit greatly from being in a city that almost exclusively speaks Spanish.

Study Abroad Barcelona

In our last trip sponsored by Dickinson College we traveled to Valencia and Barcelona, the third and second biggest cities in Spain. More so in Barcelona than in Valencia we encountered an incredible amount of American students. Understandably we met up with multiple friends whom are studying abroad. As we would walk down La Rambla at night I could not ignore that fact that English seemed more predominant on the street than Spanish or Catalan. We would continuously encounter Americans in bars, restaurants and on almost every street corner. I could not but help ask our program director Mark Aldrich, why it was that there were so many American students here. He replied that after the 1992 summer Olympics in Barcelona a lot of study abroad programs began to focus in on the Catalonian city. Over time the amount of study abroad programs increased and began to accommodate more and more students. Some companies such as CEA or IES bring thousands of students every year to Barcelona. Someone in the group also commented about the success of the Woody Allen movie Vicky Christina Barcelona and how that could have made an impression on some Americans who wanted to study abroad this past year. After only spending a little time in Barcelona I understand why so many people would want to visit, it has something for everyone. Be it the reputation of the city or films made about it, Barcelona will continue to be one of the most visited cities in the world by American students.

Beach Therapy

The proximity to the beach has served me well over these past 5 to 6 months mostly due to the fact that it has given me a place to go when I just wanted to get out of my house and have some alone time. The beach is a great companion because it allows you to think and be alone with yourself to reflect or just relax. Before coming to Malaga I would often usually daydream about what it would be like to live near the beach and have the luxury to enjoy it anytime I want. Now that I have this great opportunity to not only be in a foreign country to experience and learn culture but I can also take advantage of the beach and all it has to offer. I remember the first time I ever went to the beach in Malaga, the one in El Palo, to be exact, it was the first day I arrived in the city and had a great desire to explore my surroundings. When I first saw it, it gave me relaxation right way. It was as if all my worries were lifted away from me and I was left there to enjoy the beauty I had in front of me. The ocean breeze is one of my favorite things and it has always brought me a great deal of peace and serenity.

In the USA, I do not have the opportunity to enjoy the beach anytime I want and so being in Malaga has given me yet another gift. The beach not only has had and continues to have an affect on me, it also effects the Malaguenan people. It is often said that southern Spaniards are more open and friendly and now I can clearly say that this generalization, almost stereotype, is a correct observation of the people. The close proximity to the beach allows people to relax and open up more easily compared to people that live in places inland. Not only has the beach served as a type of therapy but it also has turned into an anti-stress remedy for life.

I hope that I fully take advantage of the not ever 2 months I have left in Malaga and fully take in as much as I possibly can. The beach, in my opinion, is a big part of this Spain experience because without it I would not have been able to learn and observe a lot of little things that have made my stay in Malaga that much better.

Spain’s focus on specialization

During my time abroad, I have noticed an interesting characteristic of Spanish society. I am honestly not completely sure how to refer to it, but I suppose the word closest in meaning would be specialization. What do I mean by this?

In Spain, it is much more common to see stores that concentrate on a specific product or service, rather than larger stores such as Wal-Mart or Target. I have contemplated the benefits of this system, the most obvious being an increase in efficiency and the mobility of individuals; on the other hand, a disadvantage includes the inability to visit one place for many of your needs. Theoretically, the quality of the bread at the panadería around the corner from my apartment is higher than the quality of baked goods at Alcampo, the closest thing I’ve found to Wal-Mart in Spain. So overall, perhaps a belief in quality over quantity is valued more than it is in the United States. I’m sure that one could hypothesize many more insinuations of this particular method.

However, the reason specialization caught my interest was that it appears to extend beyond the shops and stores that line the streets. People are included in this observation, specifically in terms of students. Not only do students have to choose a career track while in school, as their American counterparts do; they are pushed to make that decision at a younger age. While we are encouraged to explore our options in college (at 18-20 years) and take a variety of courses until we find what appeals to us most, Spaniards must decide at 15 or 16 which career track serves them best. Furthermore, once their future has been defined, it is even more difficult to change their decision. This is only what I have observed, and I do not claim to know whether or not Spanish students approve of this system, but it would be interesting to find out.

Mood Determined By the Weather

Looking out my window today I cannot help smile, mostly because it is sunny and relatively warm outside. It is hard to not notice the amazing fact that when the weather changes so does the people’s attitudes. For example, 2 weeks ago I found myself at the beach with a couple of friends while having a drink and we were not the only ones to have this brilliant idea since it seems like every Malageno wanted to enjoy the nice weather at the beach. People were laughing, enjoying themselves outside and were just happy to not be stuck inside the house anymore. Not only are young people out and about but also older crowds accompanied by a lot of children who are eager to play in the sand with their friends.
Normally when it rains in Malaga, everything in the city slows down and gets more gloomy. Especially the transportation system, mostly because they are not very used to driving in the rain, the bus usually arrives 20 to 25 minutes after the intended time. Once on the bus, the mood seems to be a homogeneous type of sadness and fatigue almost caused by the weather that surrounds them. Some people love rain and gray weather while others love the sun and the warmth of the sun. both of which are quite justified in their preference regarding the weather. This distinction of weather preference does not seem to exist in Malaga. The attitudes are either black or white and there are usually no shades of gray to express the feeling.
Hopefully the sun will keep on shining on Malaga and the people keep enjoying their beautiful city and take advantage of everything that surrounds them.

Pyrotechnics: a Family Affair

Cultural identity takes many forms, and for Valencianos of all ages, that form is the petardo (firecracker). Valencia’s love for all things that go boom culminates every year in a week long celebration called Las Fallas. During this celebration there are fireworks, flaming wooden structures in intersections, and daily explosions called Mascletas- picture the Fourth of July on anabolic steroids. Writing it off as yet another ridiculous celebration, of which Spain boasts quite a few, the true importance of Las Fallas was unclear to me. For the Valencianos however, this is a matter of deep cultural pride. The first thing that surprised me was the level of participation from all age groups. Watching the many spontaneous parades, I saw the elderly, the middle aged, and most surprisingly the adolescents, all happily marching in traditional garb. There was no embittered look of angst on the faces of the teenagers, only pride and a sense of identity. Mothers pushing infants in strollers clogged the tiny winding streets of the city, a sign that the spirit of Las Fallas is taught at a young age. At the risk of sounding culturally intolerant, I must say that Fallas fever may be blinding the judgment of some Valencianos. Toddlers ran about, seemingly unsupervised, with slowly burning wicks and pockets full of explosives. I soon discovered, to my shock, that in nearly every case, the toddler was indeed being supervised, or rather encouraged to take part in the pyromania. This early exposure to explosives, fireworks, and massive bonfires all leave their mark on the Valenciano. Not just synchronized semi controlled insanity, not just another unique celebration; Las Fallas has transformed the cultural identity of the Valenciano.

I just want to say that I really like Zapatero: Some Spaniards will disagree

It might just be his vibrant baby blue eyes or his deep dimples that gives him an innocent (I can do no harm) appearance, but I get really excited every time Zapatero comes on the television. The last time I watched him on television, he was answering questions from a selected audience, kind of like a town hall meeting, but with an elected Prime Minister. He was talking one on one with his citizens answering their concerns, in what appeared to be straightforward without a sneaky political agenda. I admired the intimacy of his contact with the citizens and more so the questions being asked were real concerns that are affecting the Spanish people. The economy is a given, and he obviously has a hard time convincing the people that they can make it out of the crisis when the level of unemployment in Spain is the highest in Europe and steadily increasing. There were of course other issues on the table, one of which is where a priest vigorously demanded to know if Zapatero really thought a fetus was not a baby and if he thought it was right to kill it. He was of course referring to the changes being made toward the legality of abortion, where the government wants to make more provisions and access to abortion. Aside from this, the Zapatero government (PSOE) has pushed to legalize gay marriage and adoption by same-sex couples, reduce the role of religion in schools, grant more political power to Spain’s provinces and better integrate immigrants since the election in 2004 preceded by the more conservative Partido Popular( PP). These social changes have been for the most part well applauded, but now with the economic crisis, it begs the question of whether this Socialist government is equipped to handle the challenges that it is being faced with.

Ive had one too many debates over the subject of Socialism vs Capitalism with one too many Spaniards. In the end, I never know why I always defend capitalism when although its claim to fame is democracy and rights for all, the most capitalist country in the world, still has yet to give gays equal rights passing laws like Proposition 8 in California to restrict same-sex marriage. They both have their upsides, and I think we waste so much time and bickering pondering on which one works better, when the our concerns should be whether or not the laws of a country is working for the good of ALL its citizens …obviously we don’t live in a perfect world and this would never happen. But, let’s think for a moment about Spain who just 40 years ago was once in a conservative dictatorship and have made these progressions in such a short amount of time, aiming to eradicate religious conservatism and sexual inequality. Obviously these are ideas much more complicated than Im making it, but does it really have to be?

Something to call their own: Flamenco

It is not uncommon to see a group of youngsters walking by in Malaga, vigorously clapping their hands to a beat and shouting “Olé” at various intervals. Flamenco, here in Spain has evolved over the years and today the more popular among the younger generation is the fusion of Flamenco with other types of music, particularly rock. However, Camaron de la Isla will forever remain the legend of flamenco. I witnessed my first flamenco performance last semester at ‘a whole in the wall’ en El Centro. At many moments, I sat in awe of what I was witnessing, an immense amount of passion and talent, something that came from the heart and was sent straight to yours. My favorite part of Flamenco is seeing the woman dance, her body in unison with the music while she makes the most inexplicably expressive faces I have ever seen in my life. I am not ashamed to say that I was left in tears after the performance, very emotional from the profoundness at what I saw.


Needless to say flamenco remains the heart and soul of Andalucía, something that defines them distinctly from the rest of Spain and the rest of the world. When we think of American music, we know that there is a wide range; from hip-hop to country music, being derived from various subcultures. The music that America is mostly known for outside of America is pop music, where the likes of Britney Spears, Madonna, Beyonce etc can be worshipped around the world. I don´t think that this is music that all Americans are particularly proud of mainly because it is so mainstream and can be reproduced by anyone who has access to a camera and can post a Youtube video of them imitating their favorite artist or the latest overplayed song of the moment. Right now Single Ladies by Beyonce comes to mind. In this aspect however, there is no one genre of music that can define Americans or its culture. Flamenco however, is a culture on its own, something that defines Spanish culture, particularly Andalucía, something to call their own.

My Conversation With Carlos

My conversation with Carlos came about after my host mom asked if I would be willing to speak in English to a friend of hers, so he could practice before his exam. I agreed, and the next day Carlos and I went to a tapas bar in Pedregalejo for a beer. He was curious about Dickinson and the study abroad program and the cities we had visited. And after hearing the long list, he admitted that I had seen more of Spain in five months than he had seen in his entire life. At first, this came as a surprise, but later I realized that our group has probably seen more of Spain than a very large majority of Spaniards.

From that point on, the majority of the conversation turned to topics concerning the United States. Inevitably, he told me he wanted to visit California and New York, but was disappointed after hearing that the United States doesn’t have the high speed rail system like those in Europe. Though, I was caught off guard when he brought up the NBA (about which I know next to nothing) and started throwing out names of players and teams. It was also interesting to hear that he loved big, gas-guzzling American cars. After we had finished talking, we got up and he insisted on paying for my beer because I was in his country. I think that encounters like these are important because, despite the usual negative feedback we receive, they show you that there are many things people like about the United States.

Is the Mediterranean diet in danger?

Save your money, expand your waistline

For our intercultural seminar's final project, I am hoping to investigate the topic of health as it relates to children and schools. This is something I find extremely interesting, as we have discussed the effects of globalization and the U.S. many times in class. The link between Spain and our homeland is easily visible and seldom forgotten, as we are reminded of America every time we pass McDonald's or are served french fries for lunch. While many families succeed in preserving the traditional healthy Mediterranean diet, others succumb to busy schedules and picky eaters, following the example of their American counterparts. The question is, is the Mediterranean diet really in danger of extinction? And if so, what can we do about it?

Recent studies and statistics that I have found point to the tendency of children to follow the Americanized diet, shunning the Spanish trend of high consumption of olive oil, legumes, unrefined cereals, fruits, and vegetables; moderate consumption of dairy products, fish, and wine; and low consumption of meat. Instead, they reach for sugary drinks, snacks with a higher fat and calorie content, and processed foods. I know that in my own household, I was surprised at the amount of hot dogs, hamburger, french fries, and fried food in general that my host mother offers her children. Additionally, more and more children and adults in Spain are becoming obese or overweight, thanks to the acceptance of an increasingly sedentary lifestyle. Sound familiar?

A model of the new food pyramid, which includes exercise as a key component

To me, it seems obvious that if measures are not taken to reassert the Spanish culinary identity, the Mediterranean diet may become a thing of the past. Although we have heard from our professors here that places like McDonald's are "for kids" and that in general Spaniards don't take such companies seriously (that is, as an actual component of Spanish food culture), who do you think is going to form the next generation and be responsible for feeding their own children? That's right - those teenagers you see chowing down on Whoppers at Burger King across the street.

Learning a Culture

Learning a language is difficult; few would disagree. The disagreements come with the answers to the question of what is the most difficult part of that process. If we start from the position I am in, a native English speaker learning Spanish, one might say that the subjunctive is most difficult because in English grammar we use it without realizing it. Others have said that it is impossible to be fluent because there are so many verbs and so many uses for some the same verbs. One of the most frustrating things I’ve encountered in my experience with learning Spanish has nothing to do with grammar. It’s laughter. That is, being in a room with Spanish speakers and understanding what is being said when all at once everyone begins to laugh and I have absolutely no idea what’s funny. These are the typical awkward situations in which I’m not sure whether to laugh pretending that I understood the joke, discretely ask for an explanation from the person nearest me, or cock my head to one side showing my obvious lack of comprehension, which is what usually ends up happening. This is frustrating, not because I’m the only one not laughing, but because I’ve reached a level of language comprehension that I can understand the words being said yet still miss the joke. Why? Based on my reflections of humor in English, I’ve decided that it is because most jokes are funny because of the context, not the words. In the 20 years I’ve spent in the United States I’ve unintentionally collected enough cultural knowledge to understand references made to famous people, important historic events, successful movies, popular foods, etc. At least one good thing has come from the many missed jokes: I’ve discovered that it takes more than vocabulary and grammar to really know a language because to be truly fluent you have to learn the culture.

The Sun has returned to Malaga!

In recent weeks, the weather has been getting better and better. Even the Spanish, who frequently complain about how cold it is, have been shedding their winter coats. On weekend days, the bars and restaurants near the beach are packed with people enjoying the weather and free tables can be hard to come by. Cruise ships are a normal in the harbor and tourists beginning to flock here. On the beach, a few daring individuals can even be seen soaking up some sun. With all of this, there is an upbeat atmosphere in which it is nearly impossible to be anything but happy.
At the guardería, we have been taking advantage of this gorgeous weather to take the kids outside to play. Normally they need a bit of prodding to gather up the toys discarded all over the floor. When they are told that we are going outside as soon as they clean up, they need little incentive more and quickly get to work. Cooped up inside, they often become cranky and pick fights with the other children over toys or other minor issues. As soon as we go outside, all the children’s faces light up with smiles as they run around cheerfully. There is little bickering and everyone enjoys a nice afternoon in the sun. It’s amazing what a difference the sun can make and the happiness that it can bring.

The Differences between American television and Spanish television

When I watch television here with my Spanish family, it reminds me of when I would watch the television with my family in the United States. But I notice some differences. I can count three differences between the movies and the television programs from Spain and the US: more nudity, more informal language, and the different movie rating systems. Based on what I have seen on Spanish television, the actors and actresses seem less modest and more sexual by making their nudity public. Also, it seems that there isn’t a limit in the language content. Sometimes they use words that aren’t necessarily appropriate in television programs. The concept that coincides with nudity and the informal language is the movie rating system in Spain. The different levels of ratings are appropriate for the general public. For example, adults (older than 18) and S (pornography or extreme violence). These ratings are more general than the specific ratings in the US. There five levels in America: X (pornography), R (older than 17 or parental guidance), PG-13 (at least 13 years old or with parental guidance), PG (parental guidance) and G (appropriate for the general public). In my opinion, there is a certain paranoia that exists amongst the Americans about what the youth is learning from watching television. Because of that, there are more restrictions and more age limits to see a movie in America.

Finally, there are the tendencies of both countries when watching television. From what I have heard from other students in class, the Spanish turn on their televisions and don’t turn them off until it’s time to go to bed. Sometimes it’s the same in my Spanish house. But I think that it seems more like an addiction for some people in the US. Depends on the person. Also, the Spanish seem to express more of an interest in the news than the Americans. But, once again, depends on the person. Sometimes depends on the location in the US as well.

After watching the television in both countries, one can conclude that each country’s values are different.

Football: The Great Unifier and Divider

The semi-inebriated running flag man, the oversized floppy flag man, and a hyper-agitated screaming adolescent, what unnatural force has brought these three seemingly unrelated Spaniards together today? The answer is simple; they are all fans of the Malaga football club. Few institutions evoke such unbridled and blind passion. Football unites people from every social level, members of the conservative Partido Popular, the socialist PSOE, rich, poor, young, and old. Overwhelmed by the roar of the din and the frenetic yet synchronized movement of the crowd; I sat and thought. Fractures spread across Spanish society: differing political viewpoints, differing views on the past, and an overall lack of patriotism. The pride and sense of national identity that I have come to associate with the United States is conspicuously absent in Spain. Football has the power to bring people together and to unite them in a common cause. Alarmingly though, the common cause is the shared disdain for the opposing team and their fans. Looking across the rows and rows of blue clad Malaguenos, it was a true cross section of society. They moved as if they shared a single collective mind. Each foul was protested in flamboyantly exaggerated fashion, and each missed opportunity was followed by a chorus of shouts and jeers. They were possessed by the love of their football club and their hatred of the opposing team. On this afternoon Malaga played their Andalusian neighbors, the dreaded and hated Seville Football Club. Across the stadium a small undulating section of red bodies stood out in the sea of blue. Brought by the same mystical, allegiance producing football addiction; they were a body apart. They ran against the grain of the unified Malaguenos, becoming an object of wrath and venom. It became clear, as Seville related vitriol poured out around me, that football is the great unifier and divider of Spain.

Intolerance

(The Spanish basketball team before their participation in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing China.)

The words “racist” and “intolerant” are sometimes used to describe a certain percentage of the Spanish population. Spain like many other Western European countries has seen the biggest influx of immigrants in its history in the past few decades. As with many other countries in the world, when there are increases of immigrants a negative perception can be created by the residents of the host country. Unfortunately for many immigrants this negative mentality seems to be widespread in Spain. We have seen charts and graphs showing us the amount of intolerance there is in Spain towards certain groups. Experiencing it first hand can be shocking. I have heard all the negative commentaries about how immigrants are poor or they are “just different”. They don’t want to be Spanish and they only bring crime and drugs to Spain. When the subject comes to race in Spain there are no politically correct answers. On more than one occasion I have been left with my eyes wide open and thinking; “did they just say that or am I dreaming”. But even in all this negativity there are lots of organizations and people that have devoted their lives here in Spain to combat these perceptions. These growing efforts will hopefully stifle the widespread intolerance I see today in Spanish society.

Hollywood

The way movies depict American life has always interested me because to a large extent, they are very accurate. For example, last semester when my host mom, Dori, and I were talking, the subject of my childhood came up. Having never thought I had an “American childhood,” I was surprised at how familiar she had become with it just by watching American movies and television. In her long string of questions, she asked, and I had to confirm, that I had played baseball and soccer as a child and practiced with my dad in the front-yard, went fishing with my family, was part of a carpool in middle school, had sleepovers, sold cups of lemonade at a makeshift stand to passing cars, and to this day my mom makes pitchers of iced tea and bakes pastries for no reason. By the end of it, Dori could hardly stop laughing and I blushed in a stupor of astonishment.

The same thing happened again after I talked with Carlos, a friend of my current host mom. He asked if the atmosphere of a typical American high school or college party matched what was shown in movies. I had to concede that they are often very similar to what he sees in American movies. Then, he described what he thought an American party would look like, based off of movies he had seen. His description was characterized by a keg in the middle of a room packed with people drinking from red, plastic cups while a group of people chant as their friend chugs a beer.

Obviously, not every childhood or party is identical, but there is definitely a convergence. Looking back on high school, I see how movies may have influenced my own mental image of a party. With that said, it's safe to say that Hollywood has a very strong influence on how our culture is interpreted by the rest of the world.